"Do we really have to wear this?"

"Oh, darling, not that again. You know we really do."

"Gods, that's so ridiculous."

"It's not! People in Japan wear them all the time."

"We're not in Japan, though, are we?"

"Come on, love, don't be like that. You look so cute in it! I knew you would."

"Of course you did. Still, I don't wanna wear it."

"Why not?"

Brienne lets out a heavy sigh before gesturing at their reflection in the mirror, both dressed in bear kigurumis, he with his hood over his head. "I'm too old for this shit, don't you think?"

"No, I don't think you are. Like I said, people in Japan wear it, even though they're mostly young girls," Tormund concedes with a shrug. "But it's for the Hardhome kids!"

Every year Tormund visits the Hardhome nursery to spend a few hours playing with the children beyond the Wall, just to bring a smile upon their faces, and in a couple of days he is taking someone with him for the first time, which he thought was a good idea. At least it was a different way of spending a day, making a bunch of little people happy, or so he said. Brienne is still feeling a bit awkward about it, but she does not really want to let her ginger boyfriend down.

"I know," she sighs again. "I'm sorry, love. I'm just feeling ridiculous in this onesie..."

"I know how you feel," Tormund wraps a comforting arm around her shoulder. "Trust me, I felt just like that the first time I did this. But when you see all those kids laughing with you, having fun with you, you just wanna do it as often as you can."

She was impressed at his words. They make child care seem so easy. She is still uncertain, however. "But that's the point: you're so damn good with children! I'm not entirely sure I am."

"Bullshit! I'm sure the're gonna love you, Brienne. But if you're still unsure, we can go see them just this once. If you don't feel alright, then you don't have to go next year. What do you say?"

The amount of consideration the redhead man shows her always catches her off guard. She considers his offer for a few moments, and, after recognizing she cannot say no to him, especially when he looks at her with those hopeful green eyes of his, she replies with a resigned smile, "Well, I think I can try. For you."

Tormund's hands cup Brienne's face and gently presses his lips to hers. "Thank you, my love. It means a lot."

"No problem," she smiles shyly, feeling herself blush. She then takes another look to the mirror, contemplating her image. "I have to admit, though, this is very comfortable and warm."

"I know, right?" he agrees, his hands running his hand across the soft fabric.

"I'm surprised you managed to find one in my size. You know, with me being tall and all..."

"Me too, to be honest, but… I may or may not have somebody buy them in Japan," he admits sheepishly.

"By the Seven, you're crazy!" the blond woman laughs.

"Well, they have pretty much all the sizes. If everything goes wrong, we could use it as a pyjama for when it gets too cold."

"I happen to enjoy the warmth your body brings, Tormund, but that's a good idea." She brings her hand to his chest and caresses it, while he laughs at her remark, covering her hand with his own. When his laughter dies, she asks, "How did you know I would agree with that?"

"I had a feeling you wouldn't refuse my invitation," the bearded man winks.

"Yeah, right," she shakes her head. Damn this man for knowing her too tell. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"What?"

Brienne hesitates for a couple of seconds before confessing, "I used to wear a pink unicorn kigurumi when I was little. With a blue horn."

Tormund raises his eyebrows in feigned surprise. "Pictures, or it didn't happen."

She quickly leaves his side to look through one of her drawers, fetches a photo album, opens in a certain page and hands it over to him. Once he sees the picture, she is sure his laughter shakes the walls of their room.

"Hells, Brienne, you look utterly adorable here," Tormund compliments. "And you making a fuss about the bear kigurumi."

"I told you I'm too old for that, did I not?" Brienne states, half embarrassed, half flattered. She glances at the photo again, affectionately. "And thanks, by the way. Glad you like it, because I loved sleeping in it."

"I do. Seriously, you look pretty. I should've bought you the unicorn I saw online. Spoiler alert: that will be your birthday gift."

"No fucking way!" Brienne chuckles. "One kigurumi is more than enough. And oh," she threatens with a serious face, even though her voice cannot hide the mockery, a finger on the tip of Tormund's nose, "if you tell anyone about my unicorn onesie, I will cut your balls off."

She knows that he knows her well enough to know she is capable of doing just that. He hugs her again, bringing her body flush to his. "Not a word, my dear."